DRG

Wasn't sure what forum this belonged in, as it's not specifically about DVDs and the Home Theater forum seems to be more about hardware...

I recently picked up a PSP UMD version of Halloween and realized I have the movie on VHS, DVD, and now UMD. I know this had to have been released on laserdisc and Beta as well. Which led me to wonder, what movie has appeared on the most different formats?

I'm not referring to the most releases, mind you. This isn't about something being released in ten different editions on DVD. It's about appearing in different prerecorded video media formats.

For sake of argument it should be either an English language film, or a foreign language film that had something of a sizable release in the U.S. Also, I wouldn't count slight variations on a format as a new format (those displosable DVDs don't count as a separate format from DVD, for instance). Official foreign releases can count, but bootlegs don't.

I can think or the following formats that movies have been released on:
VHS
DVD
LaserDisc (including Discovision, Laservision, CAV, etc.)
Betamax
UMD
Video8

VideoCD/VCD/CD-I
Selectavision (CED)
VHD
Digital VHS
HD-DVD
Blu-Ray

I'm on the fence about whether DIVX counts as a separate format or if it should just be considered an offshoot of DVD. I've also read that a select few movies were also released on S-VHS, although I can't find evidence of any titles. And if you wanted to get really old school you could count Super8 I suppose.

I know T2 has been on DVD, VHS, Laserdisc, UMD, Digital VHS, and now Blu Ray (not sure about VCD). But some boredom yesterday revealed Star Trek 3 has been on DVD, VHS, Laserdisc, Beta, Video8, CED, VHD, and soon HD-DVD. Are there any others?

FinkPish

This might be a better thread for DVDTalk.

JimRochester

I was thinking the original Star Trek movies and episodes. I believe they've been released on everything invented and a few not yet invented.

Alan Smithee

The first home video format to have prerecorded movies was Cartrivision in 1972. Most were rental-only though, and had a mechanism in the tape so that you couldn't rewind them on a consumer deck- only a special rewinder at the store so you could only watch it one time per rental.

Super 8 was film, not video. Most movies on Super 8 were 30-minute "highlight" reels, though a few complete movies came out on it.

Not sure if PSP counts as video since you can't hook it up to a TV set, but if you insist it does then you should also include Juice Box and VideoNow. VideoNow actually has a few movies split across 4 discs, including Agent Cody Banks, Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home.

mrhan

I still have the Super 8 of Star Wars which included the Millenium Falcon escape scene from the Death Star. It was all in B&W, though.

Michael Corvin

I'm going to go with Die Hard.

Mr. Cinema

You left out HD DVD and Blu-Ray.

UAIOE

What is VHD?

DRG

I suppose I should have phrased it more along the lines of "Media formats that movies were officially released on" or something. The VideoNow format I forgot about. I know there are GameboyAdvance movies as well (like Shrek), although I doubt there are many titles that would appear in the older formats as well. Maybe the Charlei Brown ones, though.

No, they're just at the bottom of the list. Hard to see with the way the pictures aligned, though.

"VHD is a videodisc format which was marketed predominantly in Japan by JVC. VHD stands for Video High Density, and there was also an audio-only variant called, not surprisingly, AHD."

The system seems to be mostly known nowadays as an early source of stereoscopic 3d movies. Movies like Jaws 3D, Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3D, etc. were released in their 3d forms on home video for the first, and I believe only, time. These discs have since been bootlegged into DVDs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHD
http://disclord.tripod.com/vhddiscworld/index.html

Chrisedge

I nominate T2

VHS
8MM video
Laserdisc full frame
Laserdisc lbx
Grey box CAV laserdisc
Blackbox CAV laserdisc
DVD
Ultimate Edition DVD
Extreme Edition DVD
BR DVD

Alan Smithee

There was an MPEG-1 VideoCD of T2 also, and it was on D-VHS.

Matthew Chmiel

Do public domains count? If so, we could be here all day with Night of the Living Dead.

In terms of official releases from studio(s) domestically, I would nominate Halloween.

Beta (Media Home Entertainment)

1981 VHS (Media Home Entertainment)
1985 VHS (Media Home Entertainment)
1989 VHS (Media Home Entertainment)
1990 VHS (Media Home Entertainment)
1995 VHS (Blockbuster Video)
1997 Full Frame VHS (Anchor Bay Entertainment)
1997 Widescreen VHS (Anchor Bay Entertainment)
1997 Limited Anniversary Edition VHS (Anchor Bay Entertainment)
1997 Limited Snow Globe Edition VHS (Anchor Bay Entertainment)
1999 Restored Collector's Edition VHS (Anchor Bay Entertainment)
2001 Television Edit VHS (Anchor Bay Entertainment)

Laserdisc full frame
Criterion Collection CAV
Criterion Collection CLV

DVD
Restored Collector's Edition DVD
Restored Limited Edition DVD
Limited Television Edit DVD
Divimax DVD

Drexl

If the rumor about Lions Gate pans out, T2 could be released on HD-DVD as well.

BTW, does that extra "HD" version of the film on the second disc of the Extreme Edition count? I know it's DVD and all, but it is in WMV format.

joltman

Just thought I'd point this quote out, as people above are listing multiple VHS and DVD releases

UAIOE

I'm suprised that "Evil Dead" hasn't been released on every home video format ever created since it came out.

Alan Smithee

Evil Dead wasn't on CED, even though that format was alive at the time it came out. I'm guessing the winner in this contest would be something old enough to have come out on CED but also put out later on 8mm videotape and then DVD- Paramount was one of the largest supporters of the Video 8 format.
Then again, Columbia had a lot of movies on Cartrivision, and also on Video 8 after Sony bought them, so it could be one of their movies.

GoldenJCJ

Damn! Halloween was released on VHS 11 times?! I guess we should stop bitching about double and triple DVD releases.

Alan Smithee

Those first few VHS releases were at the bargain price of $59.99, too!